--Perhaps the Anquan Boldin to the Titans talk will finally die, now that the draft is over. There had been an inaccurate report from ESPN that the Titans had offered an unidentified player (speculation centered on RB LenDale White or TE Bo Scaife) and a second-round pick for Boldin. That report, as well as one of the Titans entering into talks with Boldin's agent Drew Rosenhaus, were quickly rescinded as facts to the contrary came out.
That, however, did not mean the Titans didn't have interest in the disgruntled Cardinals star. They had inquired about him as far back as last summer, but when Titans coach Jeff Fisher addressed the situation after his club had taken WR Kenny Britt in the first round, it set off a minor controversy about what transpired.
"Let me clarify things," Fisher said. "There was a lot of speculation, a lot of reports yesterday evening. We never at any time made an offer to the Arizona Cardinals. We left several messages with them last night, but they never returned our call last night. We didn't get in touch with them until before the draft today, and they said they weren't interested in moving Anquan."
However, Cardinals GM Rod Graves told the Arizona Republic that he had traded several messages with Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt and spoken to someone in the personnel department with the Titans as well.
"There was communication between both teams," Graves told the newspaper.
--Coincidence or not, TE Bo Scaife reported to the Titans offseason workouts and signed his one-year, $4.46 million franchise tender offer just one day after Tennessee spent a third-round pick on prized rookie tight end prospect Jared Cook of South Carolina.
Agent Kevin Robinson said Scaife reported to show his commitment to his teammates and with the hope of earning a long-term contract extension.
"To be honest with you, he decided to report and sign his tender in the hopes that something could be worked out long-term," Robinson said. "He is the consummate team guy, and he wanted to work out with teammates and show his commitment to them."
Robinson also acknowledged that a couple of trade offers involving Scaife were on the table, saying, "There were some teams that called the Titans and were interested in trading for Bo."
In fact, for a short time on the Monday he signed the tender (April 28), Scaife's Wikipedia page listed him as being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles with the Titans receiving WR Reggie Brown and a third-round pick
in 2010 going to Tennessee. Obviously, that turned out to be false.
--Most undrafted free agents are anonymous guys just looking to get a chance to impress a team in camp. But at the very least, their college credentials, no matter what, are usually enough to get them a look from some team.
The Titans have gone in the opposite direction with their additional camp quarterback. Tennessee signed QB Alex Mortensen, who is the son of ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen. The younger Mortensen split his college career between Arkansas and Division I-AA Samford, completing 40 of 85 passes for four TDs and four interceptions between the two schools. Mortensen has not thrown a pass in a college game since 2006.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "No, I have never played (Charles) Barkley. I believe I can take him. If I make that comment, you all are going to laugh at me. When you see, you are going to be amazed." -- Rookie DT Sen'Derrick Marks on his ability to dunk a basketball at 6-2, 306 pounds. Marks attended Auburn, the same school as the retired NBA great.
